Evidence – Multiple dying declarations – Legal position summarized – If the court concludes a dying declaration is true and reliable, made without tutoring, duress, or prompting, and when the declarant was physically and mentally fit, it can be the sole basis for conviction – In case of inconsistencies, the declaration by a higher officer (e.g., Magistrate) can be relied up...
Criminal Procedure - Transfer of Case - Convenience of Wife – Held, it is well settled that the convenience of the wife is paramount in considering the transfer of cases. The petitioner, having no independent source of income and a minor school-going daughter, faces difficulty in attending court proceedings at Ropar, 80 km from Ludhiana. The petition is allowed, and the criminal complaint is...
Succession Law – Right of Survivorship – Applicability to Scheduled Tribes – Section 2(2) of the Hindu Succession Act – The Supreme Court held that under Section 2(2) of the Hindu Succession Act, the Act is not applicable to members of Scheduled Tribes – Consequently, the female member of a Scheduled Tribe is excluded from claiming a right of survivorship under the pr...
Senior Citizens Act – Section 23 – Void Transfers – Sub-section (1) of Section 23 covers all transfers "by way of gift or otherwise" – Conditions: transfer must be subject to condition of providing basic amenities to transferor, and transferee must refuse or fail to provide such amenities – Both conditions must be fulfilled for the transfer to be voidable &n...
Medical Termination of Pregnancy – Scope of Rule 3B – Unmarried women are entitled to safe and legal abortion under Section 3(2)(b) of the MTP Act read with Rule 3B – The rule includes all women who face a change in material circumstances, irrespective of marital status – The exclusion of unmarried women is discriminatory and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution &nda...
Family Law - Child Custody - Welfare of the Child -Writ of Habeas Corpus under Article 226 of the Constitution seeking release of minor daughter—Petitioner married in India, daughter born in India, family moved to Canada—Matrimonial discord led to wife moving back to India with the minor—Foreign court judgment not binding—Dominant factor is the welfare of the child—He...
Penal Code – Murder by Poisoning – Appellant convicted for murdering wife of informant by mixing poison in milk – Chemical Examiner reports and investigation revealed procedural lapses – Evidence indicated potential tampering with samples and lack of direct proof linking appellant to possession and administration of poison – Supreme Court found prosecution failed to e...
Maternity Leave – Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972 – Rule 43 – The appellant, a government employee, applied for maternity leave for her first biological child – Leave was denied on the ground that she had two stepchildren from her husband's previous marriage, thereby exceeding the limit of two surviving children stipulated under Rule 43 – Tribunal and H...
Transfer of Matrimonial Case – Convenience of Wife – Appellant sought transfer of the matrimonial case filed by her husband from Etah to Mathura citing her inability to travel, financial dependence, and allegations of threats – Supreme Court reiterated that in matrimonial matters, the convenience of the wife is of paramount importance – Appeal allowed, case transferred [Par...
Family Law – Right of Natural Guardian – Mother, as the only natural guardian after the father's death, has the right to decide the surname of her child and give the child in adoption – High Court's direction to restore the child's original surname was overturned – Mother's decision to change the surname to that of her new husband is valid and aligns with th...